Improvement in illuminating roof-plates



T. HYATT.

Illuminating Roof-Plates.

No.147,401, I Patented Feb. 10.1874.

'VVFLTNE 5 5 E 5 INVENTE] H- @MWN I m 7 @m Ma UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

THEODORE HYATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATING ROOF-PLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147.401. dated February10, 1874; application fikd January. 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE .HYAr'r, of N cwYork city, in the county of New York and in the State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in IlluminatingRoof-Plates; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, making a part of this' specification, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a section of a roof constructed in accordance withmy improved method, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same upona line passing through the center of a series of illuminating-lenses.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The design of my invention is mainly to increase the strength and lessenthe weight of a metal roof; to which end it consists, principally, in anilluminating sheet-metal rootingtile, corrugated in the manner and forthe purpose substantially as is hereinafter specified. It consists,further, in a roofing-tile having its edges turned upward, so as to beriveted upon the vertical portion of a supporting beam, substantially asand for the purpose hereina't'ter shown. It consists, finally, in anilluminating rootingplate, in which the edges of the lens-openings areturned upward, so as to form a curb for the reception of a rubbergasket, which is interposed between said plate and the projecting headof an illuminating lens, substantially as and for the purposehereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawing, A represents a sheet-metal plate, corrugated inone direction, so as to form a series of elevations and depressions,which have vertical walls, and are of substantially equal width.Extending longitudinally through the center of each elevation anddepression is a series of illuminatingopenings, B B, &C., the edges ofwhich are turned upward, so as to form a curb, b, that encircles each ofsaid openings, as shown, and within each opening is placed anilluminating lens, 0, which has an-enlarged or buttonshaped head, 0,that extends horizontally outward over the plate A. Between the lowerside of the head 0 and the plate A is placed a rubber or other elasticgasket, D, which rests upon the upturned edge or curb l). A nut, E,fitted upon or over the threaded shank of the lens 0, and bearingagainst the lower side of the plate A, enables said lens to be drawndownward, and the gasket D to be compressed until a water-tight joint isproduced between the head of said lens and said plate. The edges a ofthe plate A are turned upward at a right angle, and when said plate isin place said edges bear against and are secured to the vertical portionf of a roof-beam, F, a series of rivets, Gr, being placed withincorresponding openings formed in said flanges a and said beam.

The advantages possessed by this construe tion are as follows: First,the corrugations ot the plates afford largely increased strength, andenable a corresponding reduction to be made in their weight, and in thenumber and size of the supporting-beams, while, from the shape of thecorrugations, the lenses are as readily placed in position as thoughsaid plates were plain; second, by means of the flanged edges of theplates the latter can be secured upon or to the vertical portions of thesupporting-beams, and a better joint produced with much less labor thanby the usual method, each opening through said beam being used forcontaining a rivet that confines two plates, while, in case of the usualhorizontal joint, a separate opening mustbe formed in the beam for eachrivet'hole in the roofingplates 5 third, the upturned edge or curbaround each lensopening furnishes a bearing for the gasket, and enablesa water-tight joint to be produced with greater certainty and far lesspressure than would be possible if the plate immediately around saidopening were plain.

If desired, the corrugations may he used for the purpose of ventilation,suitable openings being provided within their ends, and said openingsclosed, when desired, by means of a slide.

I am aware of the patents issued to Thaddeus Hyatt, upon the 8th day ofJuly and the 22d day of October, 1873, numbered, respectively, 140,708and M55198, for improvements in Vault-covers, and do not claim thefeatures therein shown.

A, provided with curbed light-openings 15 b, and combined with thebutton-headed lenses 0 and rubber gaskets D substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this14th day of J anuary .1874.

THEODORE lIYAT".

'itnesses:

E. I. STARR, \VILLLUI ACKERMAXN.

